TAWR-chiz
/ˈtɔɹtʃɪz/
torches is pronounced TAWR-chiz (/ˈtɔɹtʃɪz/). Torches are handheld devices that produce flame or light, historically used for illumination. The plural form refers to more than one such device. In modern usage, it can also evoke metaphorical ideas of guidance or protest. The word is common in everyday English and appears in various contexts from literature to conversation.
Torches are handheld devices that produce flame or light, historically used for illumination. The plural form refers to more than one such device. In modern usage, it can also evoke metaphorical ideas of guidance or protest. The word is common in everyday English and appears in various contexts from literature to conversation.
"The hikers carried torches as they hiked through the cave at dusk."
"The protesters waved torches and chanted slogans."
"She lit several torches to illuminate the stage."
Pronounce as /ˈtɔːtʃɪz/ in UK/AU, and /ˈtɔrtʃəz/ or /ˈtɔrtʃɪz/ in US depending on the speaker. The stress is on the first syllable: TOR-tches. The middle is a /tʃ/ as in 'chip', and the final -es sounds like z in plural form after voiced consonants. Mouth: start with a rounded back jaw position for /ɔː/, then bring the tongue to the for /tʃ/ as in 'ch', and finish with a voiced /z/ at the end.
Common errors: misplacing the /t/ (e.g., 'tor-ches' with a weaker initial consonant), and mispronouncing /tʃ/ as a simple /t/ or /sh/; another error is ending with an /s/ rather than the voiced /z/ that follows a vowel. Corrective tips: emphasize the /t/ release into /tʃ/ without a break, ensure the final vowel is short /ɪ/ before the /z/; keep the /z/ voicing. Practicing the transition from /t/ to /tʃ/ helps create a clean /ˈtɔːtʃɪz/ or /ˈtɔrtʃəz/.
US: /ˈtɔrtʃəz/ with rhotic /r/ and a shorter first vowel; UK/AU: /ˈtɔːtʃɪz/ or /ˈtɔːtʃəz/ with longer /ɔː/ and non-rhotic /r/ in many contexts. Australians sometimes merge vowels similarly to UK but may have a slightly broader diphthong in /ɔː/. Pay attention to /r/ after the vowel in US speech and the /tʃ/ cluster remains constant across dialects.
Because of the /tɒ/ to /tɔː/ quality in the first syllable and the /tʃ/ consonant cluster following it, you combine a plosive with a palato-alveolar affricate. Transitioning from the open back vowel to the /tʃ/ requires precise tongue movement; this cluster also tests voicing on the final /z/ after a preceding /ɪ/ or /ɪz/ sound. The word is a multi-phoneme sequence, which increases difficulty for non-native speakers.
Torches has an interesting allophonic variation in rapid speech where the final /ɪz/ can become a reduced /əz/ in some dialects, especially in connected speech. You may hear /ˈtɔrtʃəz/ quickly, with the schwa sounding less distinct. Awareness of the tongue–jaw coordination for the /t/ and /tʃ/ sequence helps maintain clear enunciation in fast dialogue.
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The word torch derives from the Old French torche, which itself comes from the Latin taeda, meaning a torch or flame. In Middle English, torch referred to a stick with a flame used for illumination. The sense extended to metaphorical uses such as signaling or guiding light. In British English, ‘torch’ can refer to a handheld flashlight as well as the traditional flame-bearing implement, while American English tends to use “flashlight” for the battery-powered device; however, both sides retain the historic usage for the flame-based instrument in specific contexts. The etymology reflects a long-standing human need to create portable light and a symbolic association with guidance and discovery. The plural form torches appears in English literature from the 14th century onward, often used to describe multiple flame-bearing implements at public ceremonies or in dramatic scenes. Over centuries, the word broadened to include ceremonial or symbolic meanings, such as guiding others or marking a route, before becoming common in modern prose and discourse.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "torches" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "torches" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "torches"
-hes sounds
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